Shyam Giri, a high-profile leader of an ashram in Madhya Pradesh, was booked for rape on Wednesday after a woman said he assaulted her since she was 13 years old.

Shyam Giri, a high-profile leader of an ashram, was booked for rape on Wednesday after a woman claimed he raped her since she was 13.

Giri, also known as Douni Sarkar, is a self-styled religious leader of the Douni Narsingh ashram. He is now on the run. Police officials said the woman, now 24 years old, came forward after she told her husband about the assault and the family assured her of their support.

The alleged assault reportedly stopped only when she got married earlier this year.

The complaint was lodged at the office of the superintendent of police (SP).

The woman has said she met the suspect through her uncle who worked at the ashram. Giri had reportedly convinced her mother to leave her at the ashram so that he would help educate her. But, according to the woman, he started the assaults during the initial days of her stay itself. The woman also alleged that Giri had followed her when she was in Gwalior for studies. When two of her family members had an accident, he attempted to intimidate her by claiming that his ‘divine powers’ had caused it.

Additional superintendent of police Neraj Pandey said a case under section 376 was lodged against Giri. Police raided Douni village ashram but could not find the accused.